SEAVEG2019

The fourth edition of the Southeast Asia Vegetable Symposium attracted researchers across a spectrum of disciplines related to these essential food crops.

Dr. Srini Ramasamy (left) received the award for best paper at SEAVEG2019 from Dr. Prem Nath (to Srini's right).

Dr. Srini Ramasamy (left) received the award for best paper at SEAVEG2019 from Dr. Prem Nath (to Srini’s right).

World Vegetable Center Director General Marco Wopereis and Flagship Leader – Safe and Sustainable Value Chains Srinivasan Ramasamy attended the 4th Southeast Asia Vegetable Symposium (SEAVEG2019): “Advancing vegetable technology for higher productivity and better human health” from 9-11 July 2019 in Melaka, Malaysia. About 220 people from 10 countries participated in the symposium, organized by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and VEGINET (Vegetable International Science Network) chaired by Dr. Prem Nath.

Marco presented in plenary on “Vegetable Food System Innovations for Healthier Diets in Southeast Asia,” chaired the first plenary session, chaired a special session on agricultural value chain development convened by the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), participated in panel discussions on value chain development and participated in the symposium’s closing panel discussion on the last day.

Srini presented a paper on “Promotion of biological control for safer vegetable production in Southeast Asia: is the environment conducive now?” and received the best paper award. Srini also chaired one of the thematic sessions and participated in the APAARI panel on agricultural value chain development.

Topics covered during SEAVEG2019 included IPM, biocontrol, bio-pesticides, regulations gene editing, phenotyping, vegetable breeding (including for indoor farming), hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, plant factories, LED treatment effects on vegetable productivity, smart technologies combining (remote) sensors, actuators, internet of things (IoT), internet of everything (IoE), ‘flying’ management systems (intelligent sensing, drones), attracting young people into agriculture through technology and high-tech horticulture, rapid pesticide residue and contamination screening technology, traceability systems, tapping value from vegetable waste products, processing vegetables into high-value new products, improving storage capacity, smart branding and demand creation, and vegetable business models.

Marco and Datuk Dr. Mohamad Roff Mohd Noor, Director General, MARDI discussed opportunities to strengthen collaboration within the framework of the MOU signed between MARDI and WorldVeg in 2015. MARDI is especially interested to work on chili pepper and management of the diamondback moth pest in brassica crops. Ideas to explore include placing PhD students at WorldVeg to work on these topics; short-term assignments for MARDI staff to WorldVeg; and organizing a joint symposium on pepper.

Story: Marco Wopereis

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